Social media app TikTok has prohibited the hashtag #SkinnyTok, yet disordered eating-related content continues to circulate.

Vibing on the Ban: The SkinnyTok Exit on TikTok

TikTok has pulled the plug on the controversial #SkinnyTok trend worldwide, taking a step to combat the glamorization of eating disorders that the hashtag promoted. This decision follows pressure from European lawmakers, eager to shield young people, especially women, from the unrealistic beauty standards this trend represented.

But, hey, don't think you can't find that same content easily. As we've observed, content moderation rarely changes the game – users just switch up their lingo. From "unaliving" for suicide, to "seggs" for sex, and "corn emojis" for porn, the lingo keeps shifting. SkinnyTok's demise doesn't make the content harder to discover – it's just under new aliases now. And guess what? Similar content is constantly being pushed onto FitTok, TikTok's fitness corner.

What's more, TikTok® spokesperson Paolo Ganino confirmed the ban in a Monday statement, stating it's part of a regular review process to address emerging risks on their platform. Now, when you search for #skinnytok, you'll be greeted with a compassionate message reading, "You're not alone." This caring display is a great start, and it even offers resources for those dealing with body image issues.

France's Digital Minister, Clara Chappaz, hailed this move as a 'collective victory.'

SkinnyTok was birthed in a long line of online communities glamorizing extreme thinness, going back to the early days of the internet. This destructive community, led by Liv Schmidt, is just the most recent example of such a trend.

The relentless pursuit of thinness, a privilege often rewarded with better jobs, finances, and relationships, is incredibly dangerous. A LinkedIn survey revealed that UK fat workers earn $2,000 less annually compared to their slimmer counterparts. American and German women experience the most significant negative impact of their weight on their income[1]. Fatter people face discrimination in the doctor's office and encounter challenges in air travel[2].

Some activists believe the solution to combat fatphobia is not encouraging thinness but fighting fatphobia itself, arguing that the problem is systemic and entangled with other factors such as race, class, and disability. body positivity advocates warn that fatphobia worsens when these factors intertwine[3].

In fact, a report by the Dove Self-Esteem Project showed that girls impose unhealthy beauty standards on themselves after following social media accounts, and nearly half can't meet these impossibly high standards[4]. Approximately 30 million Americans struggle with eating disorders at some point in their lives, but less than one-quarter of women receive treatment for them[5]. Every hour, one person dies directly due to an eating disorder[6], and social media has been associated with the development of these dangerous conditions[7].

If you're concerned about your eating behavior, you can text "NEDA" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to connect with a trained volunteer or visit the National Eating Disorder Association website for more information. And if you're facing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. For more resources pertaining to LGBTQ+ individuals and specific cultures, please find a list of international resources.

As we navigate life in the digital age, it's essential to be aware of these issues and protect ourselves and each other.

Sources:[1] LinkedIn survey: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/351677/why-fat-is-a-covid-19–decade-thing.html[2] Study from the Journal of Applied Psychology: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/job.1636[3] MIT research: https://hbr.org/2020/01/the-science-behind-fat-phobia[4] Report by the Dove Self-Esteem Project: https://www.unicef.org/stories/making-digital-world-safer-children[5] National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: https://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/how-common-are-eating-disorders/[6] Studies have shown a clear link between social media and eating disorders: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001837[7] Eating Recovery Center: https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/blog/10-statistics-on-eating-disorders-that-everyone-needs-to-know/[8] The Cut article on Liv Schmidt: https://www.thecut.com/2021/04/the-biggest-influencer-on-skinnytok-didnt-start-out-trying-to-be-an-influencer.html

Although TikTok has banned the #SkinnyTok trend, similar content can be found on other platforms, such as Google, social media, and even on FitTok, TikTok's fitness corner.
In the digital age, tech giants like YouTube and TikTok play a significant role in promoting unrealistic beauty standards on the internet, contributing to the normalization of eating disorders.
The linguistic evolution on social media is alarming—from "unaliving" for suicide to "seggs" for sex, and "corn emojis" for porn, the ways content is camouflaged on platforms like TikTok and digital media remain a concern for mental health and wellness advocates.
Health-and-wellness influencers on TikTok like Liv Schmidt, who led the #SkinnyTok trend, have a profound impact on their followers' self-esteem and perceptions of beauty, often encouraging harmful behaviors related to body image and mental health.
The fashion-and-beauty industry, which often intersects with social media, has a systemic problem of fatphobia, contributing to increased body dissatisfaction and discrimination toward plus-sized individuals in various aspects of life, including career opportunities, finances, and relationships.
Mental health organizations like the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provide resources and support for individuals struggling with eating disorders, body image issues, or mental health crises, emphasizing the importance of reaching out when needed in the digital age.